Review: The Wildbirds - Golden Daze

Label: PRC

Released: August 14, 2007

The Wildbirds draw on a variety of late 60s and early 70s influences on Golden Daze. At times they turn it into their own sound, but at other times, they filter it through more recent regurgitations, most prominently the Strokes.

The first few tracks on Golden Daze get old quickly. The driving rhythms of 70s hard rock mix well with the ringing guitars, but the whole package, particularly the vocals, gets there via the Strokes rather than the Wildbirds' own path. However, "It's Alright Now" marks a change in the album. It's low fluid bass line, airy vocals and fuzzy riffs tap directly into the trippiness of 60s psyche. From that point forward, the band finds a sound that filters the retro sound through themselves rather than some band that taps into the same vein. That isn't to say that we hear no more of the Strokes on the album, because they're still prominent, but even their influence passes through the Wildbirds' own creative spin and a healthy dose of chaos to keep the album from feeling too settled.

The Wildbirds' trouble isn't their choice of influences. From the Velvet Underground to the MC5 even to 70s arena rock and even to the Strokes, they bring it all together in a cohesive package. The real difficulty is when they wear those influences on their sleeve. When they inject enough of themselves into the sound, the result is a top-notch modern take on a bit of the past.

Rating: 6/10

Website

Myspace